“Sciatica” is often used to described the feeling of a pinched nerve.
“Sciatica” is not a specific diagnosis, rather a general term that refers to shooting leg pain from the back.
Radiating leg pain can be extremely disabling and can be associated with numbness, weakness, and bowel/bladder dysfunction.
Think of a nerve being the telephone cable that transmits information from the spinal cord to a muscle/skin (it’s final destination). If this telephone cable is compressed anywhere along the route (disc herniation, stenosis, scoliosis, bone spurs, etc), “sciatica” can occur.
Diagnosis
The success of treatment options depend on an accurate diagnosis, using a combination of but not limited to: physical exam, x-ray, CT scan, MRI, diagnostic injections, and EMG investigation.
Treatment
Treatment options include therapy, strengthening, steroids, creams, anti-inflammatories, neuro-modulating medicine, muscle relaxants, injections, surgical decompression, surgical fusion, or surgical disc replacement. A custom treatment plan is recommended for each and every patient.